Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"Be Excellent To Everyone." - Bill S. Preston and Ted Theodore Logan from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

When thinking of my quote for the day today I wanted to emphasize empathy and love for each other. It is one of the biggest challenges in my life.

To feel love for a person that just cut me off in traffic, or who drives so slow right in front of me just because I have to be somewhere ten miles away in five minutes. Is this something you might be able to relate to as well?

In the book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, he tells the story of a time when he was very upset while riding on a train. It is a great lesson in empathy.

There was a father with his two children who were running wild and acting very out of control. The father sat there and did nothing. How could he just sit there and let those kids disturb all the other passengers! The acting out got so out of control that Mr. Covey finally had to say something to the father.

"Why don't you control those children?" He quipped in a harsh tone. The father replied "I am sorry, we just left the hospital where their mother died. I am not sure what to do and I guess they don't either."

The point is that you never know what is going on in the life of the person who is not paying attention in traffic, or taking to long at the post office window, or taking what seems like forever to order at the restaurant.

Just remember that your mission in life is to love God and each other. Being empathetic is an expression of that love. Try to see others as God sees you...imperfect but a wonderful and loving creation.

I think Bill and Ted had it right.

In Health,

Dr. Bryan Schuetz

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